'Pan' Movie Review: Why Critics Thumbed Down Hugh Jackman's Crew

The box office sales and reviews are out, and the results are in. It's official: "Pan" is on its way to becoming one of Warner Bros.' biggest flops.
As a prequel to the famous story of the boy who never grew up, "Pan" tells the story of young Peter, played by Levi Miller, who grew up in an orphan house and was taken away by pirates off to Neverland. There, he was impelled to liberate the people from the hands of Black Beard, Hugh Jackman, with the help of his friend James Hook, played by Garrett Hedlund, and Tiger Lily, Rooney Mara.

The Wrap reported that the movie had the potential to become a starter for a huge franchise under the wings of its backers RatPac-Dune Entertainment and Berlanti Productions. However, before the ship even sail, "Pan" shifted from its original July release date, reflecting the studio's lack of confidence in the film.
The lack of confidence clearly resonated with the result of the box office sales. The movie grossed approximately $40 million, a colossal loss for a $155 million budget, reported Forbes. On its second week, it dropped 62 percent of its sales, earning a staggering $5.86 million. Awaiting its premiere in China, it is relatively impossible now for the movie to bounce back.
As for the reviews, many critics openly expressed their lack of happy thoughts on the movie.
(Spoiler alert)
According to The Guardian, the biggest hole that made the movie sink was the backstory. "Ten minutes before the ending, our young orphan protagonist, having been whisked away from 1940s London by a flying pirate ship, is still having secrets explained to him via inelegant exposition checkpoints. There are discovered letters, a Memory Tree, and a lagoon enchanted by mermaids endowed with the power of studio script notes."

The site further explained that the movie, under the direction of Joe Wright, even failed to show how Hook became evil or even how he lost his hand, despite the crocodile humor inserted here and there. Many also bashed the casting, saying that even Hugh Jackman cannot carry a heavy load of overly criticized actors.
"Bored parents continually checked their smartphones from about 15 minutes into the film, and by the end, restless children were running around the theatre. Normally I'd tsk at such unruly behaviour, but this time, who could blame them?" The Guardian added.
With a massive loss on the $155 million budget and scathing criticisms from critics, it looks like "Pan" might be a totally lost movie for Warner Bros.